Take a look at the world around you today and compare it to twenty years ago. What do you notice? I notice how technology has changed so many aspects of our lives. Now, compare when you were first learning to write to present day students learning to write. How has technology affected student writing? Below I’ve outlined the pros and cons related to technology and the effect it has on student writing.

The Pros

Tools such as the Internet, social media, and cell phones encourage personal expression and creativity. Writing has never been more prominent or significant.

Technologies are available that support writing development. These include:

Technology gives students the opportunity to share their writing with a large and more diverse audience. This encourages greater student investment in their work. Learn more from our post, K-5 Blogging to Publish Student Writing.

Technology allows students to incorporate visuals and multimedia into their writing, instead of allowing for just text-based writing.

When used the right way, technology can promote better collaboration among students and improve engagement.

I discovered this great education infographic and thought it would be worth sharing with all of you. The flipped classroom method is a fairly new teaching concept I find interesting. It reminds me of the Montessori way of teaching because it allows students to completely master a subject before moving on, enabling them to work at their own pace. Students watch the lessons at home and are able to spend more individual time with their teachers mastering the subject content in the classroom.

Click "read more" to view the entire infographic on the flipped classroom method.

Do you want to know what I love the most when I meet teachers from around the country during my travels? That it gives me the opportunity hear how WriteSteps is making a positive impact in their classrooms. I also enjoy learning about writing apps teachers have discovered that inspire students to become better writers and make writing fun!

I love my iPad and am an advocate for combining education with the use of technology for the purpose of engaging and motivating students. The following apps are great for students to use outside of the classroom that reinforce their writing skills in a format that is fun and enjoyable! They cover a wide range of writing skills for all levels of writers. From apps that help beginning students just learning to write, to apps that help more advanced students organize their thinking prior to beginning a narrative, there is an app that will inspire any elementary school writer!

At WriteSteps, we realize the importance of integrating technology into elementary classrooms. Students have higher motivation, immediate access to quality instructional materials, and increased engagement. Utilizing technology in your classroom also prepares young students with the skills necessary to succeed in our technology driven lifestyles. Technology provides teachers like you with an unlimited wealth of resources and tools to teach and expand your knowledge; there is no limit to the resources you can use to help your students in today’s information age!